Alaska Militia Leader Sentenced to Nearly 26 Years [View all]

[Blue_In_AK]

Source: Anchorage Daily News

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The leader of a self-described militia group was sentenced Tuesday to serve nearly 26 years in prison following his conviction on nine felonies, including conspiring to murder public officials.

U.S. District Judge Robert Bryan sentenced Schaeffer Cox, 28, during a two-hour hearing at U.S. District Court in Anchorage.

Cox's sentence came a day after another foot soldier in the Alaska Peacekeepers Militia, 57-year-old Lonnie Vernon, received the same sentence.

Before he was sentenced, Cox broke down several times, grabbing tissues and fighting back tears.

"I put myself here, with my own words," he said before pausing. "And I feel horrible about that."

Cox came to the attention of the FBI in late 2009 after speeches in Montana that claimed the Fairbanks militia had 3,500 members and was armed with mines and other military weapons. But the group only had about a dozen members and, as Bryan noted, never trained for military duty.
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Read more: http://www.adn.com/2013/01/08/2745957/militia-leader-sentenced-to-nearly.html

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Some of you may remember this case. Schaeffer's co-conspirator, who also received a 26-year sentence, wasn't nearly as apologetic. http://www.adn.com/2013/01/08/2745644/alaska-militia-member-gets-nearly.html#storylink=relast

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Throughout his hearing, Lonnie Vernon was vocal, demanding several times that prosecutors and the judge prove their jurisdiction over him.

"I want to find out who the hell you people really are," Vernon said. "Nobody has proved jurisdiction."

"I reside in the state of Alaska, not in your government realm. I am sovereign," Vernon said.

The militiaman steadfastly maintained his sovereign rights, and asked marshals to arrest prosecutors. "I want you to arrest these people until they prove who they are."

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Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2013/01/08/2745644/alaska-militia-member-gets-nearly.html#storylink=relast#storylink=cpy

Mr. Vernon's wife got 12 years.